Did Kobe Bryant Ride on Shaquille O?Neal?s Coattails or Is Stephen A. Smith Wrong?

Even after a player?s time on the basketball court comes to an end, their legacies continue to be a source of conversation for NBA fans and enthusiasts. That same player is often placed on a pedestal. One such player who continues to remain a topic of conversation is the Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba devoted the entirety of his 20-year NBA career to the Lakers. During the same, he created an impressive resume that is topped off by a whopping five NBA championships. A recent comment made by a prominent analyst, however, has cast a small shadow over this particular achievement of Kobe.

This has led people to ask whether the credit for three of those championships should go to the Finals MVP during those victories, Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaquille O?Neal should be credited for the three-peat as per Stephen A. Smith

It all started a few days ago when ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith decided to list down his five picks for the top NBA players of all time. He was joined by NFL legend Shannon Sharpe and two basketball coaches who provided their opinion on Smith?s choices.

During the same, a discussion broke out when it became noticeable that Smith was nowhere close to considering Kobe Bryant in the Top 5 list. The 56-year-old made it clear that he loves the Black Mamba and that he misses him. He would not, however, place him in his elite ranking due to a particular reason.

?He is not the greatest Laker of all time,? said Smith while pointing to his list, which contained the names of other prominent Lakers stars like Kareem Abdul Jabbar and LeBron James. ?Three of those titles came with Shaq in his prime.?

Through his comment, Stephen A. stated that Shaq played a more vital role than Bryant in three out of five of Kobe?s championships. The author, however, holds the opinion that Smith?s take is not that accurate.

Kobe Bryant helped the Lakers move past the Western Conference Finals during the 1999-00 season

Shaquille O?Neal and Kobe Bryant were teammates for 8 years. Despite their off-court issues, the duo established a professional partnership that helped the Los Angeles Lakers win three NBA championships in 4 trips to the Finals. O?Neal played a prominent part, of course, and he was named the Finals MVP in all three of those wins. Much of the team?s success, however, wouldn’t have taken place without the presence of the Black Mamba.

During the 1999-00 season, Shaq possibly had his best individual year. He averaged 29.7 points, 3 blocks, and 13.6 rebounds per game en route to his only MVP award. Kobe did not take the top spot with his points, averaging 22.5 per game. He was, however, leading the team in assists and steals. O?Neal and Bryant?s partnership helped the Lakers to win 67 games that season.

When facing the Portland Trail Blazers during the Western Conference Finals, however, the team ran into some trouble. Kobe managed to pull the team through by taking the lead. He scored 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 7 assists during Game 7 of the WCF. In Game 4 of the Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Shaq fouled out, leaving it all up to Bryant. It was Kobe who led the team to their eventual 120-118 close win and a 3-1 lead.

While O’Neal was the best player in the world that year, there is no doubt that the Lakers wouldn’t have won if not for Kobe.

The Black Mamba’s efforts the next season were nothing short of remarkable

During the 2000-01 NBA season, basketball fans and analysts weren?t remiss in noticing the contributions of the Black Mamba. When facing off against the Sacramento Kings during Game 4 of the Conference Finals, Bryant managed to stun everybody. He recorded 48 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists. His performance in the playoffs was so commendable that even Shaq had to declare Bryant ?the best player in the league?.

Shaq was once again named the NBA Finals MVP after the team?s resounding championship win against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, it was Bryant who led the team in terms of assists. The same Finals also saw the Black Mamba average 27 points per game. The effort was commended by various organizations and individuals. USA Today put out an article that stated, ?Never before has a player on the winning team put up the numbers and had the impact that Bryant had against the Nets and not been selected series MVP.?

The Final Verdict

When placing the cards on the table and looking at the bigger picture, one thing becomes clear. It is a fact that Shaquille O?Neal and Kobe Bryant complimented each other and put their skills on the line to deliver the three-peat that became the envy of the other teams. The credit does not solely go to one individual.

It would be safe to assume that Kobe would have been all right in handling the team during those crucial tournaments if he had gone about it alone. If the Big Aristotle would not have been present, Kobe would have definitely filled the vacuum thanks to his scoring prowess and defensive ability. However, delivering a title needed them both.

Stephen A. Smith’s opinion that Kobe Bryant rode on Shaquille O’Neal’s coattails to three championships does not put out the full facts. It fails to fully acknowledge the overall contributions that the Black Mamba placed in those victories. The Kobe-Shaq partnership was a defining era in Lakers’ history, the likes of which had probably not been seen since the one shared by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

While the debate is something that will continue for quite a few years, it is important to acknowledge that Kobe Bryant’s legacy is more than just a reflection of his successful partnership with Shaq.

Editorial Disclaimer:?The?views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.